Industrial Conveyor Types: What Are the Most Commons?

Conveyor systems have become increasingly important in various industrial sectors for fast, dependable output. They work by transporting goods from one area to another using a structure that holds a belt, rollers, or wheels. You can power them by electrical motors, human actuation, and gravity. Conveyors are especially useful for applications requiring the rapid and efficient transfer of heavy items or enormous volumes of commodities that would be impossible for humans to move effectively using manual techniques.

You can rely on an industrial conveyor system to transfer items from point a to point b, whether you’re packing meals or providing a buffer zone between two process regions. Thus, on that note, here are the five most popular types of industrial conveyor belts.

Roller Conveyor Systems

Roller Conveyors employ parallel rollers installed on frames to transport goods by gravity or manually, where the roller diameter and axle center size are essential. A Roller conveyor is commonly used in material handling applications, including loading docks, baggage handling, and assembly lines. The rollers aren’t powered and move the goods by gravity if positioned vertically or manually if set horizontally. Depending on the use and available floor space.

Powered roller conveyors transport items using powered rollers set on frames, for which the drive type, roller diameter, material, and axle center size are essential requirements. It has different drive types, like belts, powered rollers, chains/sprockets, and applications like food processing, steelmaking, and packaging.

Belt Conveyor

 

One of the most basic kinds of conveyor is a belt system, and it transports pieces from one end to the other end of the machine. A variable speed drive allows you to change the speed. However, you must not use the belt systems as a working surface. However, they are one of the most frequent kinds of conveyor because of their simplicity.

They belong to the floor-mounted category. Belt conveyors generally move the belt across the supporting steel plate so that when the belt moves, it continues to slide. This style is the slider bed style, where you can support the belt on top of closely spaced rollers. These conveyor belts are similar to the roller conveyor belt or roller belt style.

Overhead Conveyor

 

Due to its versatility during installation, this is another common conveyor type. Overhead Conveyors utilize the vacant vertical space above the common working area to take up almost little space in a production plant. Conveyors can traverse through manufacturing zones that people and robots are unlikely to access, such as ovens, sprayers, and similar equipment.

There are several types of conveyors, ranging from hand-operated to powered track conveyors. Some of them have an enclosed track, while others do not. Because of their adaptability, you may utilize these conveyors as a universal link chain that can fit into narrow locations. It can also enhance working conditions by limiting human power in risky regions, such as increasing pollutants. A closed track system is also built to work with other systems, such as power and free systems.

Pneumatic Conveyors

Pneumatic conveyor systems use air pressure (positive pressure) or vacuum to transport dry bulk goods from one location to another (negative pressure). A source of air, a mechanism for feeding material, a conveyor line, and an air-material separator are the four essential parts of a pneumatic conveyor—these conveyors transport materials in a wholly enclosed line, reducing the risk of material loss.

Fluidizable, fine, dry powders and pelletized or granular materials are optimum for air pressure or vacuum conveyors. They are ideal for a variety of applications:

 

• Sugar
• Wheat flour
• Starch
• Food products
• Metal powders
• Sands
• Coal fines

Pneumatic conveyors are highly adaptable, need filter maintenance, and if the materials are too fragile, air or vacuum systems might harm up to 10% of the product.

Chain Conveyors

As the name implies, Chain conveyors carry items down a manufacturing line using an unending chain. The chain might have specific attachments and goes over sprockets at both ends of the line.

The most prevalent use for chain conveyors is the transfer of oversized loads, bulky goods that are very broad or long (or both), such as industrial containers, grid boxes, and pallets. In addition to the pharmaceutical business, these systems find their application in the automobile industry. One may also use the chain systems for transporting automobile components through paint factories, making it easier to apply paint. They use a lot of energy to run and electricity. Food and similar things can build in the chains and form a breeding ground for germs; hence these conveyors are not suited for such items.

Auger or Screw Conveyors

One of the oldest, this auger conveyor helps move both granular and liquid items with the help of a helical blade. You can use it for semi-solid items, like food waste, boiler ash, food items from animals, meat, wooden chips, waste products of the municipality, etc. The more the auger rotates, the faster the material transfer. But, you cannot use it on multiple planes, and its energy decreases if the place of using this conveyor has a higher inclination.

Conclusion

So, these are the five most common conveyor belts you may install for industrial purposes. While choosing, keep a few factors in mind, like the material, weight, size, cost, operation, and space availability factors. Also, see whether you need an invoice conveyor or a decline conveyor and a slower or faster conveyor.